Means for tuning radiosets



March 6, 1934. J J ROGAN 1,949,628

MEANS FOR TUNING RADIOSETS Filed Jan. 17,1930

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INVENTOR Patented Mar. 6, 1934 MEANS FOR TUNING RADIOSETS John J. Rogan, Elmhurst, .N. Y., assignor to Hygrade Sylvania Corporation, Salem, Mass a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 17,1930, Serial No. 421,459

11 Claims.

a novel type of indicating mechanism for indieating the particular station to which a radio receiving set is tuned.

A feature of the invention relates to a novel mechanism including a tape, ribbon, band or other similar element for adjusting the variable devices ordinarily employed in radio sets either for reception or transmission.

A further feature of the invention resides in a movable tape or band which has incorporated therein or which has mounted thereon indicia corresponding to the station or stations to which a radio receiving or transmitting set is to be tuned.

A further feature of the invention relates to a tape or band controlled radio set wherein the band or tape is provided with means for enabling one or more positions of the radio tuning apparatus to be accurately and expeditiously eifected and maintained.

Other features and advantages of the invention, not specifically enumerated will be apparent after a consideration of the following detailed descriptions and the appended claims.

While the invention will be described hereinafter as applied to certain well-known types of apparatus, it will be understood that this done merely for the purpose of explaining the invention. The devices and methods of the invention are capable of application generally to radio apparatus whether the same is used for transmission or for reception, in fact in any radio apparatus wherein a calibrated scale is required for indicating the adjustment of one or more variable elements.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows in schematic, form one manner of practising the invention.

Fig. 2 is another view ofpart of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the tape-roller and supporting means illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 illustrated another manner of practising the invention. This figure shows an alternative manner of retaining the tape or band in adjusted position.

Fig. 5 is a view of the embodiment of Fig. 4 with the tape or band in its retained position.

Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative manner of 6 mounting the tape-roller shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6a is a detailed view of the retaining roller according to the invention.

Fig. '7 shows a still further embodiment of the invention wherein the tape itself carries a plurality of resiliently mounted station indicia.

Fig. 7a is an enlarged view of a portion of the tape of Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing the numeral 1 indicates a plate of any suitable material which is capable of being attached at any suitable part of the radio set, preferably at a readily accessible part, altho this latter requirement is not absolutely necessary as will be apparent from the following descriptions. 15 Plate 1 is provided with a relatively small window or opening 2 through which is adapted to pass the tape or band 3 according to the invention. It will be obvious. of course that instead of employing a separate plate such as 1, the usual panel provided for the radio set may be used provided it is equipped with a small window 2.

Situated at any convenient place in back of the plate or panel 1, is a shaft 4 which carries a drum 5. Attached to drum 5 in any suitable manner and wrapped one or more times therearound is the tape 3, it being understood that the drum 5 is mounted in alignment with the window 2 as shown in Fig. 2. The free end of tape 3 is provided with any suitable manipulating device such as the ring 6, whereby the tape may be pulled through the opening 2 and unwound from the drum 5 as desired. Also mounted in alignment with the opening 2, and preferably in the rear of plate 1, is a roller 7 over which the tape is adapted to pass. Roller 7 is preferably spring-pressed upwardly so as normally to maintain the tape in proximity to the upper edge 8 of the window 2. One manner of mounting the roller is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein there is shown attached to plate 1 by screws 9, a bracket 10. The ends 11 of this bracket are provided with slots to receive the ends of the roller, and a suitable spring or springs 13 are provided to maintain the roller in its upward position as indicated in Fig. 1.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the tape or band is provided with a series of lugs 14 which may take the form of triangular-shaped blocks having a straight rear face, and an in- 110 116 will be clear. shown in'Fig. l in engagement with the plate 1 clined front face whereon are printed or en graved, the corresponding station indicia as shown in Fig. 2. The height of the lugs 14 is preferably, altho not necessarily, designed so that when no tension is exerted on the free end of tape 3, the spring-pressed roller forces the tape up against the edge 8 of the window 2 and the straight edge of the lug 14 rests againstthe front edge of the panel or plate 1. It will be understood that the tape is normally maintained reeled under a suitable tension preferably, altho not necessarily, by the means tobe described. Thus as shown in Fig. 1 the shaft 4-is coupled preferably through a reversible reduction gearing indicated schematically by the numeral 15, to the main shaft 16 which carries the usual tuning elements such as the movable plates of tuning condensers or the like. Shaft 16 is provided with a suitable spring 17 whereby the shaft 16 tends normally to assume one extreme of its adjustable angular position. It will be apparent therefore that the lugs 14 on the tape provide :means, vinconjunction with the roller '7 and the edge of plate 1, whereby the shaft 16 may be retained in any intermediate angular position.

From theforegoing description, it is believed that the method of using the tape to control the tuning of the apparatus associated with shaft Thus assuming that the lug 14 is the last on the tape'and corresponds to the .zero setting of theshaft 16 and the associated tuning elements. Then the lug 14 will have on the front face thereof the proper indicia such as the call letters and wave-length and frequency of the station corresponding to the setting of shaft '16. When it is desired to change the settingythe free end'of the tape is pulled causing settings thus pass successively through the window' the indicia thereon may be rapidly and easily observed, and when the proper station indicia comesinto view the free end of the tape'may be let go causing the roller toascend and bring the tape into proximity to the edge of the window.

' Under force of the spring 1'7-the tape is further retracted until the selected lug 14 engages the :plate v1 and further backward movement of the tape is prevented. If it is desired to move the ptapeforward again the tape is again pulled-sufficiently to depress the roller 7 and under force of the spring 16 the tape is locked inits adjusted position as above described. After a few manipulations of the tape one is enabled with the utmost speed and without tiresome observation to tune in-any desired station merely by mentally gauging the length of tape required therefor. Furthermore due to the reduction gearing between the shafts 4 and 16 the drum 5 may be made as large as desired thus enabling the lugs to be spaced apart on the tape a correspondingly large idistance. If desired instead of using a circulardrum 5 this drum may be shaped so that for'equal linear displacements of the tape equal capacity or wave-length changes occur in the apair of rollers disposed on opposite sides of the plate 1 may be employed in order more accurately to'position the tape in its adjusted position.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown a modification wherein the window 18 in the plate 1 is sufficiently large topermit the tape with the projections thereon, to pass therethrough Without providing a resiliently mounted roller. In this embodiment, the roller 19 is mounted for r0- tation in suitable bearings (not shown) at opposite sides of the window. The window is provided with a lateral extension or slot 20 which is preferably in alignment with the top of the roller 19. It will be understood of course that in this embodiment the tape is wrapped around a drum or other similar device as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and the tape is also provided with a resilient take-up similar to the spring 1'7. When it is designed to tune-in a station, the tape is pulled outwardly as hereinabove described until the station designation appears, whereupon the tape is given a slightside-wise movement to cause it to enter the slot 20. The tape is then allowed to retract under force of the spring 1'7 until the proper tab or projection 21 abuts against the plate 1, as shown in Fig. 5.

Instead of mounting the roller '7 of Figs. 1

and 2,- on the rear of the plate, the roller may be resiliently mounted in the plate itself, as shown in Fig. 6. If desired the roller '7 may be provided withsprocket teeth at its ends and the tape may likewise be provided with perforations at its edges in the manner of the usual motionpicture feed mechanism. As shown in Fig. 6a the upper edge of the window is recessed to provide a positive centering means for the roller when it is forced upwardly by the springs 13, it being understood that the sprocket teeth on the roller are sufiiciently long to protrude through the tape and register with the recess 22 when the roller is in its upper position.

There is shown in Fig. 7, a still further modification wherein the members bearing the station designations are in the form of thin plates which are swingably attached to the tape and are normally maintained in an upward position out of the plane of the tape by suitable spring connections as indicated schematically by the nu-.

meral 23. In this embodiment it is not necessary to employ the roller 7 of Figs. 1 and 2 since the window 24 may be made sufficiently high to permit the tape with its spring supported designation strips to pass freely therethrough, it being understood of course that the tape isso disposed on the drum that it normally tends to lie against the upper edge of the window. Tension -on the tape for the purpose of tuning causes it to be lowered so that the designation strips can pass van:

freely through the window, otherwise the func tioning of the designation strips in arresting backward movement of the tape is similar to that already described in connection with the preceding figures.

While specific methods of controlling the stopping and feeding of the tape are shown, it will be understood the invention is not limited thereto. For example the method of controlling the recoil of devices such as window shades or the like may be employed to carry out the fundamental inventive concept. Other changes and modifications will be apparent to those familiar with the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for tuning in a radio set comprising a long strip member having one end normally reeled and coupled to a tuning element of the set, the other end of said member being free and adapted to be grasped for unreeling and thereby adjust said tuning element, means tending to maintain said member normally reeled, and a plurality of locking means for locking said strip member in various positions corresponding to the stations to be tuned in.

2. A device for tuning-in a radio set comprising, a strip-like member, a tuning element, a drive shaft for said element, means for causin said strip-like member normally to tend to asiume a reeled position relative to said shaft, and a plurality of stop members one for each station to be tuned in for retaining said strip-like member in unreeled positions corresponding to stations to be tuned-in.

3. A device for tuning-in a radio set comprising a long narrow band, a member around which said band is normally reeled, means normally tending to reel said band around said member and a plurality of means for retaining said band in a corresponding plurality of unreeled positions there being one of said means for each station to be tuned in.

4. A device for tuning-in a radio set comprising a long narrow band, a member around which said band is adapted to be reeled and unreeled means normally tending to reel said band around said member, a resiliently mounted roller past which said band moves when being unreeled, and a plurality of stop members carried by said band, and cooperating with said roller to lock the band in selected adjusted position.

5. A device for tuning-in a radio set comprising, a long narrow band, a member about which said band is adapted to be reeled and unreeled, an opening through which said band passes and means comprising an edge of said opening for locking said band in any desired position.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which the band is provided with a plurality of stop members adapted to engage an edge of said opening to retain said band in any desired unreeled position.

7. A device for tuning-in a radio set comprising, a tuning strip, a member having a window through which said strip passes, and a slot in one edge of said window for retaining said strip in any desired adjusted position.

8. A device according to claim 7 in which said strip is normally maintained in a reeled position and is adapted to be unreeled to effect a tuning of the set.

9. A device for tuning-in a radio set comprising, a tuning strip, a member having a window through which said strip passes, and a member resiliently mounted in said window for retaining said strip in any one of a number of adjusted positions.

10. A device for tuning-in a radio set comprising a single tuning strip having one end free the various adjusted positions.

JOHN J. ROGAN. 

